Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.
Tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Whereas M. tuberculosis is widely spread, M. africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it rema...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-05-01
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Series: | PLoS Pathogens |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010490 |
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author | Marta L Silva Baltazar Cá Nuno S Osório Pedro N S Rodrigues Ana Raquel Maceiras Margarida Saraiva |
author_facet | Marta L Silva Baltazar Cá Nuno S Osório Pedro N S Rodrigues Ana Raquel Maceiras Margarida Saraiva |
author_sort | Marta L Silva |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Whereas M. tuberculosis is widely spread, M. africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it remains a significant cause of tuberculosis. Although several differences have been identified between these 2 pathogens, M. africanum remains a lot less studied than M. tuberculosis. Here, we discuss the genetic, phenotypic, and clinical similarities and differences between strains of M. tuberculosis and M. africanum. We also discuss our current knowledge on the immune response to M. africanum and how it possibly articulates with distinct disease progression and with the geographical restriction attributed to this pathogen. Understanding the functional impact of the diversity existing in TB-causing bacteria, as well as incorporating this diversity in TB research, will contribute to the development of better, more specific approaches to tackle TB. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-10T10:16:26Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-e2c381f1afa3407ea8084d8367e7395c |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1553-7366 1553-7374 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-10T10:16:26Z |
publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
record_format | Article |
series | PLoS Pathogens |
spelling | doaj.art-e2c381f1afa3407ea8084d8367e7395c2022-12-22T01:52:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742022-05-01185e101049010.1371/journal.ppat.1010490Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns.Marta L SilvaBaltazar CáNuno S OsórioPedro N S RodriguesAna Raquel MaceirasMargarida SaraivaTuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum. Whereas M. tuberculosis is widely spread, M. africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it remains a significant cause of tuberculosis. Although several differences have been identified between these 2 pathogens, M. africanum remains a lot less studied than M. tuberculosis. Here, we discuss the genetic, phenotypic, and clinical similarities and differences between strains of M. tuberculosis and M. africanum. We also discuss our current knowledge on the immune response to M. africanum and how it possibly articulates with distinct disease progression and with the geographical restriction attributed to this pathogen. Understanding the functional impact of the diversity existing in TB-causing bacteria, as well as incorporating this diversity in TB research, will contribute to the development of better, more specific approaches to tackle TB.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010490 |
spellingShingle | Marta L Silva Baltazar Cá Nuno S Osório Pedro N S Rodrigues Ana Raquel Maceiras Margarida Saraiva Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns. PLoS Pathogens |
title | Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns. |
title_full | Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns. |
title_fullStr | Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns. |
title_full_unstemmed | Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns. |
title_short | Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns. |
title_sort | tuberculosis caused by mycobacterium africanum knowns and unknowns |
url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010490 |
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